We spoke with Nicola Colombo, global head of SGS Digicomply about its Smart Knowledge Explorer; NZMP Head of Sales for Medical Nutrition – Europe, Camiel Van Beek, about the new range of low-lactose ingredients for the European market; and Dr Emiliano Rial Verde, vice president nutrition at Bunge Loders Croklaan, about the launch of Betapol Plus OPO for infant milk formula.
We also have our weekly look at the global dairy markets with Liam Fenton, from INTL FCStone.
NZMP introduces new range of low lactose ingredients into European market
At Food Ingredients Europe in Paris this week, the global dairy ingredients and solution brand of Fonterra, NZMP, showcased its ingredients solutions tailored to address leading consumer needs within the sports and active lifestyle, paediatric nutrition and medical nutrition/healthy ageing categories, as well as cheese and cream products.
Low lactose ingredients
NZMP head of sales for medical nutrition – Europe, Camiel Van Beek, said, “We’re constantly looking to grow our portfolio and anticipate the demand of consumers, both in Europe and across the globe. This will be the first time NZMP has showcased the new low lactose range – including, SureProtein MicroLac 4850 – to our European customers which demonstrates our investment in delivering ingredients that meet the specialized needs of our ageing population.
“The product concepts contain less than 0.3% lactose and have been specifically designed to support consumers with better digestive comfort, as well as including nutrients to aid bone and muscle health plus vitality.”
Attendees of Fi Europe also had the opportunity to see a selection of NZMP’s on-the-go protein fortified concepts, including; fruit and vegetable juices, cold brew coffee milk, drinking yogurt and high protein bars.
Angus Rowland, NZMP technical innovation lead, Europe, said, “Our objective work with a range of customers to ultimately provide consumers with the quality protein they need, while also delivering great flavour and texture. In a crowded industry, NZMP SureProtein Flex 515 is a breakthrough whey ingredient that provides high levels of protein in bars and snacks, allowing our customers to offer consumers the convenience of ready-to-eat products, with great taste and texture.”
As well as probiotics, NZMP will be profiling Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM) as part of its specialized dairy ingredients portfolio.
NZMP head of innovation for sport and active lifestyles, Rolando Saltini, said, “With mental wellbeing now a significant global health concern, we’re always looking for ways to develop quality nutrition to help address these needs.
“In today’s busy society, mental wellbeing is equally as important as physical health. That’s why we’re committed to investing in innovative ingredients that can help us to offer solutions and support for modern day consumers.”
SGS Digicomply launches Smart Knowledge Explorer
SGS Digicomply, a compliance intelligence platform for the food and beverage industry, has launched Smart Knowledge Explorer, which the company says brings faster regulatory intelligence access and broadens the network’s country coverage to more than 100 markets and economic trade unions.
The platform monitors more than 100,000 web pages to identify documents, articles, commentaries, images and labels that together create the big data of compliance services. This new release brings new functionality, new market coverage and new features.
Smart Knowledge Explorer is a set of AI-based new features that improve Digicomply’s search functions. In addition to existing accessibility, searchability and data management capabilities, the Smart Knowledge Explorer delivers:
- Enhanced search ability – beyond traditional keyword searches users can now search by concept to identify relevant content within documents and then navigate through them
- New interface – a re-designed interface
- New widgets, charts and analytics – users can streamline access to the content most relevant to them, such as regulatory guides, food frauds and a database map for statistics
- Increased personalization – new tools to create widgets that tailor data to the user’s business needs
Digicomply said it now covers more than 100 markets and economic trade unions for the food and beverage industry.
Its horizon scanner monitors more than 700 sources, providing users with access to more than half a million documents in both their local languages and translated into English.
For Pro users, professionals who want to integrate and simplify their compliance processes, a new database of food additives limits, listed by country or international organizations, such as Codex Alimentarius is now available. This data can be used to support daily decision-making for global commerce and business needs.
Nicola Colombo, global head of SGS Digicomply, said, “With Smart Knowledge Explorer we are stepping into the future of REGTECH, empowering more and more Artificial Intelligence to offer our users the most complete experience of usage personalization.
“We are projected to develop more solutions and in 2020 we will surely mark new milestones. Artificial Intelligence is here to stay, and we will embrace it to offer our users more personalization of regulatory compliance management.”
Bunge Loders Croklaan launches Betapol Plus OPO for infant milk formula
This week at Fi Europe, Bunge Loders Croklaan (BLC), the edible oil business of Bunge Limited, unveiled Betapol Plus, the next generation of Oleic-Palmitic-Oleic (OPO or SN-2 palmitate) lipids for infant formula.
The new Betapol Plus blend for infant formula offers a 60% OPO or SN-2 palmitate level, which is the highest level available on the market, up to 50% higher than current products. This new solution is closer to the levels in mother’s milk fat than any offering available on the market, BLC said.
According to the company, benefits of Betapol Plus for babies include improved energy intake, increased bone mineral density, reduced constipation, healthy gut bacteria, less crying and better sleep.
Dr Emiliano Rial Verde, vice president nutrition at BLC, said, “There is a strong need in the infant milk formula industry to get as close as possible to the composition and benefits of mother’s milk, ensuring parents have the best alternative available when breastfeeding is not possible.
“With Betapol Plus, we are providing an option that is closest to nature. It adds significant value to infant formula brands where premium choices are in high demand and to the growing specialty infant formula market addressing diverse dietary needs.”
Dr Wiola Mi, global human nutrition science lead of the new generation Betapol, said, “We all agree that breastfeeding is important for infant nutrition and bonding. But when breastfeeding is not an option, choosing the best infant formula, with the best evidence-backed ingredients, is key for babies’ healthy growth and development.”
Until now, no ingredient supplier could provide an OPO or SN-2 palmitate level that surpassed 40-45% and most commercial infant formulas have mainly POP (Palmitic-Oleic-Palmitic) fats.
Not only do the levels of OPO or SN-2 palmitate in mother’s milk range from 60% to 75% of total lipids, palmitic acid is also more favorably absorbed in the OPO structure rather than in the POP structure.
Furthermore, clinical evidence shows a dose-dependent response when OPO or SN-2 palmitate levels are greater than 40%, as levels above this threshold show increased calcium and lipid absorption.
Thirty years ago, BLC first invented OPO, known as Betapol. BLC said it was the first enzymatically processed fat blend bringing infant milk formula closer to nature by mimicking the lipid structure of mother’s milk.
In 2019, BLC further strengthened its dedication to nutrition innovation by launching a global Nutrition Business Unit focused on delivering high quality, innovative solutions in infant, sports and medical nutrition.
Low lactose graphic: Getty Images/Lazuin
